February 24, 2014
6 Simple Things You Can Do Today to Clean + Organize Your Pantry
This week’s focus is on the pantry. (The weekly focus is always listed on the left hand side of the calendar in gray.) If you haven’t grabbed February’s Cleaning + Organizing Calendar, go get it! It’s free here.
First of all I’m going to start off an tell you that I am not assuming everyone has a pantry. If you don’t have a pantry just insert the words dry food storage. This week we’re concentrating on our dry food storage area – pantry, cupboard, what-have-you. The whole point of the weekly focus is to take a little time to clean and organize a small space in your home with the hope that over time your whole home is tidied up. If you have the time and your pantry needs a little love, join in.
Naturally, I look for the simplest way to get the best result so today I am sharing 6 things you can do right now (today!) to organize your pantry. Ready to dive in?
- Throw away any expired food. Donate any food to your local food pantry that you have more than you need of or food that you know you won’t get to so you aren’t throwing out food again.
- Remove items and wipe down your shelves.
- Divide your pantry into zones. This can as simple or as complicated as you’d like to make it. Here are the zones in my pantry from top to bottom – cereals, extra storage, baking, cooking, grains + pastas, canned goods, kids’ snacks and lunch food, and beverages and large snacks. At the bottom of the pantry I keep onions in a crock and grocery bags in a basket. Condiments are stored on one door and other paper products and stuff for the kids are on the other door.
- Group like items with like items – this simple key to organization holds true in the pantry – if you have multiples of the same thing, group them together. Five jars of spaghetti sauce? Line ’em up.
- Take items out of the original packaging to free up space and to give your space a more organized look and flow. You can use reusable food storage containers, large glass canning jars, or purchase food storage containers. This is something that I’ve resisted in the past, but once I changed over my containers I like how much easier it is to find and see what we have and how much is left. Serious game changer.
- Label, label, label. Labeling in the pantry is a great idea. Use a label maker, washi tape, an erasable marker, chalkboard labels….Really the options are endless. If you don’t like to label things and if you think it’s silly to label things in clear containers (I used to, too), just try it in your pantry and trust me on this. You’ll love it.
Have a great pantry storage tip to share? How about a pantry find? Share in the comments!
Deborah K Says
What brand are your food containers? I’ve purchased OXO in the past but they don’t seal well.
Becky Says
Post authorThese are OXO and I love them – the seals are great and have been washed a number of times.
xo, Becky
Stephanie Says
I love how uniform things look with food containers. It’s a great idea.
My in-laws kitchen is tiny and we’re always trying to figure out how to better organize things and we found this website: http://www.remodelaholic.com/2013/02/home-sweet-home-budget-kitchen-storage-ideas/
There are a bunch of great organizing ideas, most are pretty simple.
kay Says
Hi, loved your pantry. Can you recommend a store for purchasing the clear containers? Are they sold in bulk?
If you like microfiber cloths, the best ones I’ve found have been at Walmart in the automotive cleaning department. There are 15 for $10.00. They are large, wash beautifully, much better than what is found in any cleaning supply aisles.
Becky Says
Post authorI bought them from Target and Amazon – they’re the OXO brand 🙂
xo, becky
Jane Marie Says
Agree with Kay. Just bought the Walmart ones from automotive, perfect
Sarah Martina Says
A tip for pantry storage in different containers… don’t forget to save the instructions for your mixes! Grits, pancake mix, etc! Even if you make your own mix, it’s easy to forget how much water to add, or what not…
With that said, where should that information go? In a book? On the containers?
Phyllis Says
I have clear containers in my pantry and Instead of labeling I cut out the front and back of the original package and put it inside the container. That way I know what it is and any needed instructions, information or calories, etc. If you buy the same thing each time you can use the cut outs over and over.
Meredith from Penelope Loves Lists Says
I love these OXO containers for pantry storage. And you’re so right, moving to using them in the “dry storage” area is a total game changer. Much easier to keep things looking neat that way. All the package remnants drive me nuts!
Nancy Schiller Says
Where did you get the organizers on the doors? Great looking pantry. Thanks!!
Becky Says
Post authorThey came with the house but I’ve seen similar ones at The Container Store.
xo, Becky
Margaret Minor Says
My husband just installed Closet Maid “behind the door” shelves for me. They come with eight shelves. Am just starting to organize and don’t know where to start!! Haha. We found the shelves in Lowe’s for $40.00
Becky Says
Post authorYay! You’ll love them 🙂
xo, Becky
Jeanne A. Says
I couldn’t possibly do this in a day! My pantry is so over full & a mess that it would take me at least two or three days. I have tried several times to do all of your tips only to end up back at the same place a few months later. The really sad part is there are only two of us living here! I think I need an intervention!
Becky L. Says
You can purchase the clear OXO Contaiers also at TJ Maxx stores. Much cheaper than Amazon & Target.
Myra Says
I looked at the OXO containers today. I was a bit overwhelmed with what size would work best for what. Any suggestions?
Jenn Says
Measure the height of your shelf openings and go from there : ) Go bigger for larger quantity items, and smaller for less quantity.
Kim Says
love these tips and the containers!! found them here in Canada at Bed Bath & Beyond 🙂
Tika Says
I’ve always kept a FULL larder/pantry of basics, you never know when the power will go out for weeks or cannot get to a store or regional emergency & shelves are bare! I NEVER store food in plastic containers or in their bag/box. I buy in bulk it is on sale once a year … 5# of sugars fits 1 gal jar easily, flours, rice, oatmeal from a lg, bag or by# bulk, etc. I have 12-14/ 1 gallon glass jars for most of those basics. I keep whole grain pasta & grains like lentils barley, etc. in smaller matching lg. mouthed jars like pickle jars, just paint the lids. I have 12 huge Ecko lazy- susans (13.5″ I bought at Walmart in 1998) organized by category: Sauces = pesto, olives, green chilies, fig spread, sundried tomatoes; Marinades; International items; Cooking = pesto, tuna, salmon, broth, clam juice; Baking= canned milk, dry milk, honey; sm. jars of pastas & whole grains; vegetables; fruit; rices, items for meals like soups; jams & peanut butter; bulk loose teas in baby food jars & a double lazy-susan… ETC. Just pull everything out of the pantry or cabinets & categorize them on the floor or table as you go, then you will know how many you will need, what size fits in pantry or cabs (upper or lower cabs). I even have smaller single & double lazy susans for upper cabinets = all my spices alphabetized & so EASY to find stuff! Oils & vinegars; BBQ; Baking spices. I put all the seldom used appliances on the top shelf, cereal used everyday lower shelf. Always keep emerg. gals. water on floor, & emerg. To Go plastic food bin there too!.. I move A LOT so I just tightly wrap a plastic bag around each group still on L-S & set about 2 in an apple or banana box & cover w/lid, then pull them out VOILA all ready for the next house! Works every time & I have moved at least 21 times, big pantry to little one, some only cabs. I have often had to add a shelf in rental units at the top & in owned houses totally reinstalled the shelves so 2″ above the lg. jars, which often gives me one more shelf! Here is a great place to order large jars & less expensive than retail stores: http://www.specialtybottle.com. 206-382-1100; if driving thru area, DO NOT GO at rush hour, hard to find & park, but absolutely worth the trouble!